Hugo e



July 421, 192s. Re, 16,125

. H. F. SCHMIDT 9. 1918 .'5 Sheets-Sheet July 2l, 1925. I

H. F. SCHMIDT TRACTOR Juli 21, 192s. Re. 16,125

H. F. SCHMIDT TRACTOR Original Filed Feb.'9. 191B 5 Sheets-Sheet EJE July 21,1925.

' Re, 16,125 H. F. SCHMIDT TRAGZM'z Original Filed Feb. 9. 1918 A5 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 21, 1925.

Re. 16,12'5 H. F. SCHMIDT l TRACTOR Origixllal Filed Feb. 9. 1918 5 SheetsFSheet A5 li u l /llllfllllllll riff',

r 5 l i To all whom it may concern.'

Reissued July 2l,A 1925.

UNITI-:D Asrfresl Re.16,1z5A

PATENT OFFICE.

HUGO r. SCHMIDT, 4or MILWAUKEEWISCONSIN. y

riginal No. 1,356,744, dated October 26,1920, Serial No. 216,303, filed February 9, 1918. Application for reissue led December 24,1920'. Serial No. 433,054. l

`Be it known that4 I, HUGO F. SCHMIDT, al

`citizen of4 the vUnited States, residing at 2708 Chestnut Street, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County,` l/Vi'sconsin, formerly residing at 2245` `Worth Kedize Boulevard, `Chicago,

and useful Improvements in rIractors, of `which the following' is a speciication.

This invention relates to improvements in tractors for general haulage and power purposes and among the objects of the invention are to provide a machine adapted for use on a farmin connection with -any one of the standard farming implements in. common use, without any alteration of vthe latter whatever, the machine being so designed and arranged that the various implements may be interchangeably connected to it and pulled or dragged in muchthe same manner as could be done with teams of horses. Other objects of the invention are to provide a machine vof the nature described which shall be light, strong and powerful and vadapted for use over `'rough and broken ground and through soft soil and mud and,

\ in order toattain such other objectsY to the l the line 7 7 of rige.

the invention'is illustrated in the 'accomf fullest extent, it'has been necessary, there@ tore, to provide a frame structure adapted for such service and av linked track or drive chain for carrying the weightof the machine `over the'ground.

A machine vembodying the principles of panying drawings in which: i

Figure 1` is a. view of the complete tractor in side elevation.r y i Fig. 2 .is a top plan view. y o Fig. is a view in front elevation. l

Fig. 4 is atransverse vertical section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line` 5 5 of Fig. 1.` l Y Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section'` on the vline G Gvof Fig. 2.

' Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical' section on Fig. 8 is a View inrear elevation showing the steering wheel and control levers.`

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section `on the line 9 9 of Fig. 1.

As shown in said drawings, the complete 1 beam.

ftogether, ytheseV parts ,beingv supported `di- .rectly on wheels which reston a pair of y p vcontinuous linked tracksV or .drive chains,- Cook County, Ill1no1s,'have invented new so that no other frame of any sort is required.' Accordingly there is shown an engine, preferably of the ordinary internal eombustiontype, comprising a set of cylinders, 1, and a crank case, 2, to which there Vranged the driving gears for providing the necessary changes of gear combination, and for reversing, the `machine Y being driven through a pair of drive shafts 7 having at their outer ends driving sprockets 8, which mesh into the drive chains 5; the weight of the front end of the machine being carried on the drive chains by idler wheels 9.

Cn each side of the engine crank case 2 is a horizontal beam or b ar 10, the rear endof whichis connected to the transmission gear- `'sethousing by a pivot boltv11, and the front end of`which is-shackled by'a` pair of shackles to .the ends ofr a transverse spring, 16, carrying the .weight of the forwardpart ofthe'engine frame through a large bracket 18 bolted'to the engine crank case Each of these beams is supported between its endson one of the idler wheels 9,

` 'the wheel being journaled on an axle shaft 20 which is fixed in the middle part of the Ati-about the center of each beam thereis made a large opening to receive a cylindric part 21 (see Fig.` 4)- through which vthe shaft 20 extends eccentrically, so that by rotating the cylindric part the distance between the two wheels-Sand@ may be varied to lprovide thev necessary adjustment of chain tension. The part 21 is' made with a projecting radial fiange 22, and into theopening in the bar from the opposite side is itted a corresponding circular plate or disk 25 with a similar flange 26.

The axle shaft 20 extends through these two parts and is made with a projecting threaded end and isV `provided with a nut 28; and the axle shaft is alsoV made with a ledge or shoulder 30, so that by tightening the nut 28 the two parts 21 and 25 may be clamped together to secure the axle shaft in its position of correct adjust ment. The wheel 9 turns on the axle shaft 20 with the interposition of a bushingv 33 and a thrust collar 34 to take the wear. The two endless linked tracks or chains 5 on each side of the machine are made in such form as to embody within them means for preventing the 'lower part or stretch of each chain, which is convex relatively to and rests on the ground and carries "the weight of the machine, from bending up between the two wheels, the construction of these chains beingmore particularly set out in my co-pending application filed January 29, 1918, Serial rNo. 214,413, (now Patent 1,856,743). i

As the machine is supported on the ground through these two chains' alone, the

' lower stretches of which are lconvex as just described and as clearly shown in Fig. 1, other means must be provided to secure the necessary fore-and-aft stability and to pro- `vide for steering the machine, and accordingly there is secured to the rear part of the machine, joining the upper part of the transmission gear-set housing 3, a longhorizontal beam Vor reach 40, extending rearwardly and` adapted for connection through a link 41 and a clamp 41a toy a wheeled plow or otherstandard farming implement 42;

which latter is pulled or dragged by a drawbar 44,by being attached directly to the rear part off the machine or Vpower unit as is clearly shown inv Fig. 1.

l:The beam. 40I is secured th-rough a jointed connection to a large heavy bracket 45 which forms an integral part of the powerunit by being bolted upon the top of the transmission gear housing 3; This Vbracket is made with a pair of jaws.46 which are embracedi in a large hood-shaped part, or steering head 47, and' secured the-rein by a pivotor king-bolt 48; Vthe latter being pinned one of' the jaws (indicated at 48a) and' jfournal'edf above and below in bushings 49l The part 47 carries a. short, fixed, rigid stub shaft 50 which isI fixed' in a bracket or boss 51 and secured by pins 52. The beam or backbone 40 of the machine is made of two chan-nel members 55, arrangedl parallel and side by side, and joined together at their forward ends by a pair of spacing blocks '58 and 59, to which they are secured by bolts 60. rThe shaft 50i extends through openings in these blo'cks and ispro-vided with a nut 6'1 to hold the parts together, thereby forming a swivel connection between the beam and the bracket 47 to allow a certain amount of twisting of the beam 40,; this twistingmovement being limited by a stop member 64 secured tothe shaft 50 by a set nut 65. The beam or reach 40, shaft 50, bracket 47 and king-bolt 48 constitute coupling means between the power unit and the implement to be pulled or dragged.

.In order to impart the necessary turning movement about the pivotor king-bolt 48 for steering the vehicle, there is bolted to the top of the bracket member 45 a horizontal gear segment 7 5, and Vmeshing therewith isa pinion 76 on the lower end of a vertical shaft 77, journaled in the forward part of the hood-shaped member 47; To the upper end of the shaft 77 is fixed a large bevel gear 78, and meshing therewith is a bevel pinion 79 on the forward end of a horizontal steering shaft 80. The machine is provided with a steering wheel and a steeringcolumn 86 which is connected through a universal' joint 89 with the steering shaft 80, so that by turning the parts through the movement of the steering wheel the course of the machine is directed by the wheels of the implement draw-n behind.

Besides the steeringI of the machine, its control is effected through a pair of control rods, and 101, which are arranged on each side of the steeringv column 86, and similarly connected respectively, which are journaled on eachsideofthe steering shaft 80. The controlY rods 100, 101, at their rear-ends are bent outwardly at-right angles and extend in proximity to the steering wheel 85 and te-rniinate beyond the periphery of said steering wheel so asv to. be conveniently operable. Onthe king-.bolt v48 and accommodated between the jaws of the supporting bracket 491 are a pair Aof sliding hubs, andi 111, which are connected'through vertical sliding rods, 112 and 113,- and links, 114 and' 115, to cranks,` 116 and 117, on the two shafts, 104 and 105Y respectively. The hub 110: is connected through a rod 120 to a bell crank lever 121 which controls the clutching and unclutclriingv and the braking of themachine vtliirough a rod 123x (see Fig. 1) g and the hub l111 is similarly connected through a rod 1.24 to a bell crank lever 125 which controls. the gear Changes and the reverse gear .Combination inthe transmission y gear-set housing. It is intended that the running of the engine shall be automatically controlled through a governor on the throttle, and automatic,y shifting of the spark or ignition points, so that the tractor is entirely controlled through the steering wheel 85 and the two controlg rods or levers, 100 f and 101., These parts are supported at their ends by a short post which is connected to. the rear end of the` beam 40l by a curved spring 141; the spring` being continued backward t0 support e Seat 1452 for the. driver so through. Vuniversal jo'1n-ts,f102, and 103, to short shafts, 104 and that not only is his weight carried by a spring support, but vibratlon from the Amachine is absorbed -through the springconnection 141 between the beam 40 and the steering wheel and control levers. When the machine is used with some of the standard farming implements, which are considerably longer than the wheeled plow here shown, it is advantageous' to detach the spring 141, with the seat 142 and thesteeringl column and control levers, from vthe beam 4() and mount them on the rear part i of the implement; this being permitted by telescopic joints 145 and 146, in the column and in the control rods respectively.

The machine is provided with abelt pulley 150 to adaptv it for general power purposes, this pulley being `fined on the end of a transverse horizontal shaft 151 carrying a bevel gear 152. The engine clutch shaft is com tinued rearwardly through the gear-set housing and its rear end is squared, asindicated at 153, to engage in a. squared opening in the hub of a bevel gear 154 mesh'- ing with the gear 152;. The shaft 151 is journaled ina sleevel 155 which isr bolted to the end of the gear housing by a pair of symmetrically arranged bolts 156 and a bolt 157, the latter engaging in a projection 158 at one side'of the gear housing. On the other side of the housing is a similar projection 159, Aso that if desired the sleeve may be turned about and bolted to the latter projection, thus bringing Lthe belt pulley 15() on the otherside of the machine; or when not required the sleeve and shaft may be re moved entirely` As the particular arrangement. of the clutch and the change gears :within the housing 8 is no necessary part 'of the present invention, Athey are not here shown, but their design includes a counter shaft 170 which likewise extends back through the rear wall of the gear-set housing and is squared, as indicated at170, and covered'lby a removable cap or cover 171, so that this shaft can be used also for imparting movement tothe machineryv of one of the implements'used in connection with the mach ine. y

By means of the construction above described, with the engine and gear-set housing forming `a unitary frame structure, it is possible to make the tread,lor width, of the complete tractor little greater than the width of the engine; so that thetr'actor-as here shown may operate between rows of i corn for plowing and planting other crops, in accorda-nce .with ap-proved farming methods. While the tread is thus made narrow,` stability is obtained through a low center of gravity-an advantage .l secured l through the."use of the. two linked tracks instead oflarge wheels `of equivalent dialmeter.

An additional advantage of thenarrow unit and said device.

tread is that 'in plowing ythe tractormay runA entirely von the solid ground while the plow would have one wheel on-the unbroken Aground and one wheel in the furrow previouslv cut. It is claimed and ters Patent:

1. Ink a tractor, a ablevelement vertically vpivotally connected desired to secure by Let-v Vto said unit, a beam member horizontally pivotallyponnected to and extending away from said clement, and control means for said unit'sup-ported by said beam member. l 2. In a! tractor, a power unit, a swingable element vertically pivotally connected to power unit, a swingsaid unit, a beam member horizontally pivotally connected to and extending away from said element, controlmeans for said unit supported by'v said beam member, and means coacting with said beam member to sustain the same in desired position.

' 3; In a trac-tor, a power unit, a. swingable element verticallyv pivotally connected to and extending away from said unit,` the pivot beinglocated out 'of the plane of the transverse axial center of said-unit, a beam member horizontally pivotally connected `to and extending away from said element, and

'control means for said vunit supported by said beam member.

`4. In atractor, a power unit supported by -two traction elements located one on eac-h side of said unit, a swingable element vertically pivotally connected lto said unit, a

beam member horizontally pivotally connected to and extending away from said swingable element, control means for said unit supported by said member, and means coacting with said beam member to sustain the samein desired position.

5. In a tractor, a: power unit supported by two traction elements located one on each `side of said unit, a device to be transported over the ground.,` a beam member horizontally and vertically pivotally associated with said unit and co-operating with said device to prevent tilting of said unit, and a direct draft connection between said 6. In a tractor, a power unit supported by two traction elements located one on each side of said unit, a device to be transported over the ground, a beam member horizontally pivotally associated with said unit and co-operating with said device to preventtilting of said unit. and a directl draft connection between said unit and said device.

Ina tractor, a power vunit or device supported by two traction elements located one on each side of said unit, a device to be transported over the ground, a beam member associated with, saidj'devices to Iprevent .tilting of said unit, and said association of "said beam member with one of said devices including a horizontal pivotal connection Iit) . by two traction elements located one ony each side thereof, coirpling means for connecting said power plant to one of avarie-ty of devices to be` drawn. to effect fore-and-aft stability ot the tractor,I a horizontal pivotal connection between said couplingv means and said power plant, and separate mechanism for transmitting vthe draft of the tractor from said power plant towsaid drawn device.`

9'.. In a tractor, a power unit, a beam member horizontally' and `vertically pivotally connected to and extending away from said unit, control means for said unit supported by said beam member, andmeans coacting with said beam member and withtheI ground to sustainv said member in desired position.

10. In a tractor, a power unit, a swingable element vertically pivotally connected to said unit, a beam member extending away from. said element,. control means for said unit supported by. said member, and means connecting said: member and said` element for permitting oscillation ot said member about its longitudinal axis.

11. In a tractor, a` power unit supported by two traction elements located onev on each side of said unit, a swingable1 element vertical-ly pivotally connected to said unit,A a; beam member extending away from said element, control means for said unit supported by said member, and a connection between said member and said element for permitting oscillation of saidl member about its longitudinal axis.

12.111` atractor, a power unit, a swingable element vertically pivotally connected to said unit, a beam member extending away from said element, control means for said unit supported by said member, means oonnecting said member and said element for permitting oscillation; of said.Y member about its longitudinal axis, and a device tobe transported over the ground connected to said member.

13. In a tractor, a power unit supported by two traction elements located oney on each side of said unit, a swingable element vertically pivotally connected to said unita beaml member extending away from said element, control means for said unit supported by said member, a connectionv between said member and said element for permitting oscillation ot saidv member about its longitudinal axis', and a device to bevtransported over the ground connected to said member.

14. The combination in. a tractor, of a power unit, control means for said unit, a yoke member vertically pivotedand horizontally movable with respect thereto, `a beam extendingrearwardly from. said yoke member andv operative to support said control means, and means operative to connect said beam and said yoke member and permit the oscillation ot said beam with, respect to said yoke member about the longitudinal axis of said beam.

15. In a tractor, frame structure supported by two. traction elements located one on said unit a pair of rearwardly extending members having between them a horizontal pivot lfor associating same with said swingable. element, and control means for said unit supported by said members.

L7. Ina tractor, a power unit, `a swing-able element.y vertically pivotally connected ito said; unit, a beam member comprising a pair o'zt parallel channel members having between them a horizontal pivot for Vconnecting same to said element, and control means for said miit supportedy by said beam member.

Y 1.8. In a tractor, a power unit, an element 'vertically pivotal'ly connected to said unit, said element having a rearwardly extending portion, and a beam member 'comprising spaced.y membersv extending rearwardly from said element and embracing said rearwardly extending portion thereof, said beam member being movable about its longitudinal axis.

19. Ak tractor comprising a power unit, traction` elements supporting said unit, a yoke movable with respect to said unit, and a beam comprising spaced members extending rearwardly from; and embracing a portion of said yoke, supported thereby, and mov able with. respect thereto about its longitudinal axis. y

20. A tractor comprising a. power unit, a pair of traction. elements supporting said unit,x a yoke horizontally movable with respect to` saidL unit, a bracket or boss extendingrearwardly from. said yoke, a beam comprising a pair of laterally spaced members disposed one on each side of said boss, operatively supported thereby and movable about a longitudinal axis with respect thereto.

21. The; combination with a tractor having Va power unit,A a pair of traction elements supporting. said unit, a yoke horizontally movable with respect to said unit, a block supported inoperative relation with respect to said yoke and movable relatively thereto about a horizontal axis,l and a pair of spaced members operatively rigidly secured one on' tractor, of a trailing'implement, and means foroperatively securingsaid implement to said beaml whereby said implement and said beam are adapted to move unitarily l withre- 2liv spect to said yoke'.

22.` A tractor comprising a frainefstructure supported on a paii of endless linked tracks and adapted for coupling` to an iinplement, a forked bracket on the frame structure, a steering head connected to the bracket through a vertical pivot bolt, a horizontal beam extending rearwardly over the implement'and swiveled at its forward end to the steering head, a steering gear between the head and the bracket to turn the bracket on its pivot, a steering column supported by the beam and connected to the steering gear, a control rod arranged vabove the bea-m, andl means for connecting the control rod to the mechanism of the machine, such means including a part sliding vertically on the pivot bolt.v

23. A tractor comprising a frame structure supported on a pair of endless linked `tracks and adapted for coupling to a farin-v ing implement, a beam extending rearwardly over the implement fromv the tract-or frame and connected thereto, a forked bracket on the frame structure, a hinged joint conneciing thebeam to the bracket through a vertical pivot bolt engaging the two jaws of the bracket, a drivers seatV at the rear end of the beam, a steering column and a control rod arranged above the beam,

a gear segment on the bracket, a pinion meshing therewith to control the steering head, means for connecting the steering column to the pinion, a crank arm connected tothe control rod, a sliding part on the 4 pivot bolt, and meansyfor connecting vthe sliding part to the crank arm and tothe mechanism of the tractor, whereby such `mechanism is controlled" independently of the operation of the steering gear.

24. A tractor comprising an engine and a gear set housing forming. a unitary frame structure supported on a pair of endless linked tracks and adapted for coupling to a I farming implement, driving sprockets meshing in the linked tracks, a horizontal beam on each side of the frame structure, a pivotal connect-ion between one end of each bea-mv and the frame structure, a load supporting spring shackled to the opposite end of each beam, and a wheel carrying .the load at the middle part of each beam on the corresponding linked track.

25. A tracto-r comprising an engine and a gear set housing forming a unitary frame structure supported on a pair of endless linked tracks and adapted for coupling to a farming implement, driving sprockets meshing in the linked tracks` a horizontal beam on eachy side vof the frame structure, a pivotal connection between one end of each beam and the frame struct-ure, a load supporting spring shackled to the opposite end of each beam, a wheel carrying the load at the'niiddle part of each beam on thecorrespending linked track,`and means for adjustably varying the position of the wheel with respect to an end ofthe beam to vary the chain tension. i

26. .In a tractor, a frame, and a traction element both pivotally and resilieiitly associated with said frame, said traction element comprising a driving sprocket, an idler wheel spacedfrom said sprocket, a chain having stretches extending from said sprocket to vsaid idler wheel and embodying means for preventing inward bending or said stretches, means for maintaining spaced relation between said sprocket and said idler wheel, and adjusting mea-nsfor varying the distance between said sprocket and said idler wheel to vary vthe tension of said chain.

27.. In a tractor, a frame, and a traction element both pivotally and resiliently associated with said frame, said traction element comprising a driving sprocket, an idler wheelspacedfrom said sprocket, a chain having stretches extending from said sprocket to said idlerwheel and embodying mea-ns for preventing inward bending of said stretches, a beam for maintaining spaced relation between vsaid sprocket and said idler wheel, and an adjustablev eccentric between said beam and said idler wheel for varying the distance between said sprocket and'said idler wheel to vary the tension of said chain.

28. In a tractor, a power unit, a swingable element vertically pivotally connected to said unit, a beam member horizontally vmember to limit the extent of relative oscillation of said member and said element, and control means' for said unit supported by said beam member. I

30.In a tractor, a power unit, a swingable element vertically pivotallyV connected to said unit, va beam comprising a'pair oflaterally spaced members horizontally pivotally connected to and extending away from said element, means associated with said element and located between said members for limiting the extent of oscillation of Said beam, about its h-Orzontal pvot, and. control means for saidunit supported by saidbeam.

3l. Iny a tractor, a power unit, a swing;-vr able element vertically pivotallyiconnected to said unit, a pair of rearwardly extendinglaterally spacedfmembers: located inV proximity to said element, spacing blocks secured to said members, and means associated with said element and" coacting with said blocks to provide a horizontal pivtal connection betweenk said members and said element.y i

.32 In 21,- tractor, a newer unit, a Swingable element vertically piyotallly connected to said unit, a beam member horizontally Pivotally Connected. t and, extending away from said element, a steering rod. extending longitudinally ofl said member, and adapted to swing said. member relatively to said unit, and rotary control rods for said unit. extending parallel to said: steering rod, said; control rods,and said steering rod, beingy supported by said beam member,

33,. In a tractor, a power unit, a beam member cnniected on horizontal pivot to said unit, and one of several interchangeable implements removably associated with said beam member, said implement forming the sole means for providing fore-and-'aft sta-V bility of the tractor. 34'. In a tractor, a power unit, a beam member connected on a horizontal pivot to said unit, control means for said unit'supported said beam member, andV one of several interchangeable implements removably associated with saidbeam member to sustain the same in desired position, Y 35. In a tractor, a power unit, a device extending rearwardly of said power unit, a vertcalpivotal'connection between said unit and said device, and means including an element on said power` unit located 'o rwardly of said pivotal connectionV anda, sec? ond. elementisnpported by said device and located forwardly of said pivotal connection and coacting with said firstelement to elifect. steering of said tractor. Y

' Ff! SCHMIDT. 

